Assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor

ABSTRACT

An external body of a soot extractor for effectively devoid of the previously mentioned sharp edges which are capable of inflicting injury on persons. The body includes a top sheet member having left and right edges bending downwardly to form a first fixing means respectively, and two side sheet members respectively attached to the left and right sides of the top sheet member and individually having a main plate portion and a arcuate plate portion, and a second fixing means extending downwardly from the edge of said arcuate plate portion for secured on the first fixing means.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/894,805 filed Jun. 4, 1992 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,550.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a kitchen soot extractor, and more specifically relates to an external body of a kitchen soot extractor.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a conventional external body of a kitchen soot extractor is shown. The body 10 comprises a top sheet 11, a left sheet 12, a right sheet 13 and a rear sheet 14. Both the left sheet 12 and the right sheet 13 are provided with projecting flanges 121,131 around their edges. In the process of combining the various sheets to form the body 10, both the left and right sheets 12 and 13 are united with the top sheet 11 by fitting the projecting flanges 121 and 131 to cover the left and right edges 111 and 112 of the top sheet 11. The left and right sheets 12 and 13 are fastened securely to the top sheet 11 by means of spot welding.

However, such body of a kitchen soot extractor suffers from the following disadvantage: in view of the sheets 11,12,13 and 14 being made of thin stainless steel sheet by means of punching and pressing, both the external edges 122 and 132 of the projecting flanges 121 and 131 of the left and right sheets 12 and 13 are very sharp rather like a blade, which often become potential hazards. When a person is transporting or washing the body 10, his hand may be wounded by the edges 122 and 133. It's dangerous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an external body of a kitchen soot extractor having improved assembly structure for effectively avoiding the previously mentioned sharp edges which are capable of inflicting an injury on persons assembling, transporting or cleaning the soot extractor.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of the external body of a conventional kitchen soot extractor;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the body of FIG. 1 after assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a left sheet of a external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a positioning member of a external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the situation of the assembly of the positioning member and the left sheet shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the stage of the assembly of the components of the first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a assembled body of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9--9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the structural features of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the structural features of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the structural features of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the structural features of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 4-9, a first preferred embodiment of an external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to the present includes a top sheet member 20, a left sheet member 30, a right sheet member 40, two positioning members 50 and a rear sheet member 100.

The top sheet member 20 is provided at each side with a thrust plate portion 21 formed by bending the left and right sides of the top sheet member 20 downwardly. The bottom edge of the thrust plate portion 21 projects inwardly through approximately 180 degrees, so as to form a short strip portion 22.

The left sheet member 30 has a main plate portion 31, an arcuate plate portion 32 and a narrow plate portion 33. The side of the narrow plate portion 33 is formed by bending downwardly as to form a vertical plate portion 34.

The structure of the right sheet member 40 is similar the left sheet member 30.

The positioning member 50 includes a base plate 51 having an outer upward wall 52 and an inner upward wall 53, so as to form a generally U-section receiving space 54. The inner upward wall 53 has a plurality of perforations 531 and a halt portion 55 formed by bending the top edge of the inner upward wall 53 outwardly and then downwardly through approximately 180 degrees.

The process of assembling the components described above as follow:

(A) As shown in FIG. 6, fit the inside of the outer upward wall 52 of the positioning member 50 to the inside 341 of the vertical plate portion 34 of the left sheet member 30, and then fix the position member 50 to the plate portion 34 by means of spot welding. The electrode 110 of welding machine can pass through the perforation 531.

(B) The thrust plate portion 21 is inserted into the receiving space 54 of position member 50 in a direction indicated by the arrow 120 shown in FIG. 7 (A). Thereafter, the top sheet member 20 and the left sheet member 30 are held mechanically locked together in the unique manner just described. Because the bottom edge 551 of the halt portion 55 is propped up by the top edge 221 of the short strip portion 22, the top and left sheet members 20 and 30 are not vulnerable to falling apart when an external force indicated by the dotted arrow 130 in FIG. 7 (B), is exerted upon the left sheet member 30 during the assembly or the transportation of the external body embodying the invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the right sheet member 40 and the top sheet member 20 are assembled use of the same mode as just described.

The external body of a kitchen soot extractor embodying the present invention has the following advantage over the prior art: i.e. the edges of the top sheet and side sheets are united in such a unique manner that are effectively devoid of and exposed sharp edges, so as to effectively prevent an assembly worker, or a person washing the body, from being injured accidentally by such sharp edges.

FIG. 10 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention differing from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-9 in that the side sheet member 30 having a main plate portion 31 and an arcuate plate portion 32, and the positioning member is integrally formed to the edge of the arcuate plate portion 32. Thus, this embodiment needn't undergo welding.

A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, in which the side sheet member 60 has a main plate portion 61 and an arcuate plate portion 62. The edge of the arcuate plate portion 32 extends downwardly to form a first vertical plate portion 63 and then extends outwardly to form a first horizontal plate portion 64. The outer edge of the first horizontal plate portion 64 extends upwardly to form a first curved portion 65, which in turn extends horizontally and inwardly to form a second horizontal plate portion 66. Both sides of the top sheet member 70 extend downwardly to each form a second curved portion 71 and then horizontally and inwardly to form a third horizontal plate portion 72.

In the process of assembling the components described above, the third horizontal plate portion 72 is fitted into the space which between the first and second horizontal plate portion 62 and 64. Thereafter, pressed in a direction indicated by the arrow 140, by means of a pressing tool or similar tool.

A fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12, in which the side sheet member 80 having a main plate portion 81 and a arcuate plate portion 82, too. The edge of the arcuate plate portion 82 extends downwardly to form a first plate portion 83 and then extends appropriate length outwardly to form a positioning portion 84. Both each side of the top sheet member 90 extend downwardly to form a second plate portion 91.

In the process of assembling the external body of the fourth preferred embodiment, the second plate portion 91 is kept close to the first plate portion 83, and position upon the bottom of the positioning portion 84. Afterward, integrate the first and second plate portion 83 & 91 by means of spot welding, rivets, screws, or the like.

FIG. 13 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention differing from the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 in that the edge of positioning portion 84 extends upwardly a short plate portion 85, so as to form a generally U-section beading having a upwardly opening receiving space 86 in order to receive the bottom portion of the second plate portion 91.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor comprising: a top sheet member having left and right sides having downwardly bent portions; two side sheet members respectively at left and right sides of said top sheet member and individually having a main plate portion, arcuate plate portion at one end of said main plate portion and a portion bent downwardly at a side of said arcuate portion opposite said main plate portion; means attaching said downwardly bent portions of said top sheet to respective bent down portions of said side sheet members.
 2. An assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to claim 1 wherein said downwardly bent portions of said side sheet members each include a positioning portion to support a respective downwardly bent portion of said top sheet.
 3. An assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to claim 2 wherein said positioning portions extend up a short distance to form generally U-section beadings having an upwardly opening receiving space adapted to receive said downwardly bent portions of said top sheet member.
 4. An assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to claim 1 wherein: said downwardly bent portions of said side sheet members include a first vertical plate portion, a horizontal portion extending inwardly from said vertical portion, a portion extending upwardly from said horizontal portion and a portion extending inwardly from said upwardly extending portion to form a receiving space; and said downwardly bent portions of said top sheet member include an inwardly extending horizontal portion inserted into said receiving space.
 5. An assembly structure for an external body of a kitchen soot extractor according to claim 1 including: a member having a first upward wall, a base plate and a second upward wall so as to form a generally U-section receiving space, and a halt portion formed by bending a top edge of said second upward wall outwardly and then downwardly through approximately 180 degrees; and the downwardly bent portions of said top sheet each having an end section bent inwardly and upwardly through approximately 180 degrees to form a short strip thrust plate portion, said thrust plate portion being inserted into said receiving space and a bottom edge of said halt portion being supported by a top edge of said short strip portion. 